Fishing fly

ABSTRACT

A fly fishing lure having a hook which includes a shank portion adjacent the eye and a sharp barbed end in substantial alignment with a projection of the aforementioned shank portion. Intermediate the eye and the sharp barbed end the hook shank includes portions offset downwardly from the eye and sharp end such that the majority of the weight of the hook and lure functions as a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;keel&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; to orient the lure such that the barbed end is disposed upwardly. Fly material is disposed adjacent the eye, and additional fly material is mounted upon the arcuate hook portion contributing to the low center of gravity and &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;keel&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; action. As used in a dry fly fishing lure adapted to rest upon the water surface, the invention contemplates the use of two groups of fly material strands in angularly disposed relationship to each other to aid in the lure floatation. In a wet lure embodiment the inventive concept encompasses the use of an additional metallic weight, such as in the form of wound wire, upon the hook portion constituting the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;keel&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; of the lure.

United States Patent Pobst [4 1 Sept. 12, 1972 [54] FISHING FLY [72]Inventor: John R. Pobst, 1835 S. Walmont 'Dr., Jackson, Mich. 49203 [22]Filed: March 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 128,256

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.757,319, Sept.

4, 1968, Pat. No. 3,605,317.

[52] US. Cl. ..43/42.25, 43/4228, 43/4237, 43/4239, 43/42.4, 43/4243[51] Int. Cl. ..A01k 85/08 [58] Field of Search ..43/42.25, 42.37,42.38, 42.4, 43/4243, 42.39, 42.28

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,480,766 1/1924 Kelly et a1..43/42.25 1,635,644 7/ 1927 Sloan ..43/42.25 2,164,807 7/1939 Evans..43/43.l6 2,199,001 4/ 1940 Khoenle ..43/42.28 2,938,295 5/ 1960 Watson..43/43.2 3,023,536 3/1962 Williams ..43/43.2

Primary Examiner-Samuel Koren Assistant ExaminerDaniel L. LeachAtt0meyBeaman & Beaman [57] ABSTRACT A fly fishing lure having a hookwhich includes a shank portion adjacent the eye and a sharp barbed endin substantial alignment with a projection of the aforementioned shankportion. Intermediate the eye and the sharp barbed end the hook shankincludes portions offset downwardly from the eye and sharp end such thatthe majority of the weight of the hook and lure functions as a keel" toorient the lure such that the barbed end is disposed upwardly. Flymaterial is disposed adjacent the eye, and additional fly material ismounted upon the arcuate hook portion contributing to the low center ofgravity and keel action. As used in a dry fly fishing lure adapted torest upon the water surface, the invention contemplates the use of twogroups of fly material strands in angularly disposed relationship toeach other to aid in the lure floatation. In a wet lure embodiment theinventive concept encompasses the use of an additional metallic weight,such as in the form of wound wire, upon the hook portion constitutingthe keel of the lure.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEB EHZW v 3.690.029

INVENTOR JOHN R. POBST ATTORNEYS FISHING FLY CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingUnited States Pat. application entitled Weightless, Weedless FishingFly, Ser. No. 757,319, filed Sept. 4, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,605,317.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to fishing luresof the type generically known as fly fishing lures wherein the weight ofthe fishing line is primarily used in the placemerit and casting of thelure, and the lure is intended to represent an insect or similar naturalfish bait. Additionally, the fishing lures in accord with the inventionmay be generally classified as snagless due to the ability of the lureto minimize occurrences of snagging on brush and water obstacles.

In the aforementioned application a fly fishing lure of superiorsnagless characteristics is achieved by the utilization of a uniquelyformed hook upon which the fly material is mounted in a novel manner.The snagless features of the aforementioned lure result from severalfactors, such as the substantial alignment of the hook barb with thehook eye, and the extension of fly material from adjacent the eye to thebarbed end wherein the fly material protectsthe sharp end of the bookfrom snagging.

Additionally, the lure of the aforementioned invention employs a hookhaving shank portions offset with respect to the eye and barbed end suchthat the combination of the lightweight fly material and hook weightcauses the center of gravity of the lure to lie well below the flymaterial wherein the hook functions as a keel and maintains the hooksharp end disposed upwardly, away from rocks and branches resting uponthe river or lake bottom with which snagging is normally likely.

While it is desired in the fishing lure of the aforementionedapplication that no additional weight be placed upon the lure, it hasbeen found that with certain types of lures, because of the type of flymaterial tied thereon, or because of the small size of the hook ascompared with the fly material, that the keel action desired isadversely affected as the weight .of the hook portions producing thekeel function is not great enough to always offset the influences of thefly material.

. Additionally, while the basic inventive concepts as presented in theaforementioned application are applicable to dry flies as well as wetflies, i.e., dry flies being supported upon the water surface, ratherthan entering the water as in the case of a wet fly, there is a tendencyfor dry flies not to maintain the desired vertical orientation undercertain conditions and additional orientation means are desirable.

I SUMMARY OF .THE INVENTION It is the object of the invention to producea fly fishing lure of a relatively snagless construction wherein thehook configuration and location of lure center of gravity is such thatthe fly produces a keel action to achieve a predetermined orientationwhile within or upon the water, and wherein such keeling and orientationmay be achieved in flies of small dimension, or in dry flies adaptedtobe supported upon the water surface.

In the practice of the invention the hook employed is identical to thatdisclosed in the previously identified application, and in themanufacture of fly fishing lures in accord with the instant inventionfly material, either in the form of strands, foil, wire, densely woundhair, or the like, is mounted upon the hook portion adjacent the arcuatehook portion, and is thereby offset with respect to the eye and sharpend, and'ofi'set relative to the fly material mounted adjacent the eye.In this manner the additional fly material so mounted upon the hookshank adjacent the arcuate portion augments the keel action achieved bythe hook employed with the lure.

As used with a dry fly adapted to be supported upon the water surface,the fly material added to the hook portion adjacent the arcuate portionmay be in the form of flexible hair strands densely bound to the hookportion constituting the primary keel", and such bound strands arepermitted to freely extend in an upward direction adjacent the hookarcuate portion so as to function to support the lure in a verticalorientation since the free strand ends will be disposed at a highervertical elevation than the bound strand portions due to the indentationof the lure into the water surface. Additionally, the dry fly utilizeshackles or fine hair strands adjacent the eye, preferably disposed inintersecting planes wherein the downwardly extending hacklesinterrningle and engage the water surface to aid in the floatation ofthe lure. Further, by incorporating strands or fine feathers of greaterlength than the majority of the strands mounted adjacent the arcuatehook portion, the low center'of gravity of the lure permits the lure tokeel or orient itself in a vertical manner as the lure falls through theair to aid in proper orientation of the lure as it engages the watersurface.

As the keel action of the lure orients the hook sharp end upwardly, thehooking of the fish usually takes place in the upper jaw, which isdesirable as it increases the likelihood of maintaining the fish uponthe lure and landing the catch.

In small size lures, particularly of the wet type, wherein the weight ofthe fly material is greater, by ratio, as compared to the total'weightof the lure as compared with larger size lures wherein larger hooks areemployed, the addition of weight to those portions of the hook offsetwith respect to the eye and sharp end is desirable to emphasize the keeleffect. Such weight may be effectively added to the hook by winding orotherwise attaching wire to offset regions of the hook shank, and a leadwire may be used for this purpose. The addition of such wire alsopermits the wire itself to be wound and covered by more naturalappearing fly material such as strands or hairs.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The aforementioned objects andadvantages of the invention will be appreciated from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a dry fly fishing lure constructedin accord with the invention having hackles disposed radially extendingfrom the hook shank portion,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the lure of FIG. 1, as taken fromthes-leftethereof,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of dry flywherein two groups of hackles mounted upon the hookshank are angularlydisposed relative to each other, v

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of fly fishinglure constructed in accord with the invention illustrating an emergingwing fly material and foil addition to the offset hook shank portions,

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the lure of FIG. 4 taken from theleft thereof,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partially sectioned, illustratinganother embodiment of fly fishing lure of the wet type, particularlysuitable for small lures,

FIG. 7 is an elevational sectional view of the lure of FIG. 6 as takenalong Section VII-'VII thereof, and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the type of hook used with thefishing lure embodiments in accord with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the disclosed embodiments offly fishing lures incorporating the concepts of the present invention,the hook configuration used with the various embodiments is the same,except for overall size variations, and the configuration of this hookwill be appreciated from FIG. 8.

The hook, generally designated at 10, is formed of a shank havingportions as described below. The hook shank is formed of wire andincludes an eye 12 formed at one end of the shank in the normal manner.The linear shank portion 14 adjacent the eye 12 extends in a horizontaldirection, as illustrated, and a second shank portion 16 dependsdownwardly form the shank portion 14 at the junction 18. The secondportion 16 is also of a linear configuration and extends away from theeye 12 toward the right, as will be appreciated. The third portion 20 ofthe hook shank extends to the right from the second hook portion at thejunction 22 therewith, and the portion 20 is of a linear configurationsubstantially parallel to the shank portion 14, but spaced verticallybelow the projection of the shank portion 14. The third shank portion 20serves as the support for the arcuate hook portion 24 which smoothlyblends into the third portion at the junction 26. The hook portion 24extends upwardly toward the longitudinal projection of the shank portion14 and the sharp barb end 28 is disposed toward the eye 12 and is insubstantial alignment with the projection of the shank portion 14.

It will be appreciated that a hook of the described shape andconfiguration has a center of gravity existing below a lineinterconnecting the eye 12 and the sharp point 28. The shank portion 14can be considered to define an axis of the fiy in that, particularlywith a wet fly, the fly tends to pivot about the projection of the shankportion 14, but due to the low center of gravity of the hook, thevertical orientation of the hook is maintained by a keel action and thesharp end 28 will always be disposed above the shank portion 20 duringuse. The shank portions 16 and 20, and the arcuate hook portion 24,provide the mass that forms the keel action, and the hook configurationis such that over two-thirds of the weight of the hook is used to definethe keel portion of the lure as defined by portions 16, 20 and 24. Whenthe fly material is attached to the shank portions 14, 16 and 18, aswill be described, it is desired that the weight of the lure below aline 30 drawn through the eye 12 and a point 32 located half way betweenthe sharp end 28 and the shortest distance from the sharp end to thethird portion 20, i.e., through the bight of the hook portion,constitute at least 50 percent of the total weight of the hook and thusat least 50 percent of the weight of the hook itself lies below line 30.Thus, such a weight dis tribution will place the center of gravity ofthe total fly well below the projection of the shank portion 14 and thelure will function in its desired keel manner.

A basic dry fly fishing lure constructed in accord with the inventiveconcepts using the described hook is shown in FIG. 1. In a lure of thistype, fine hair strands or hackles 34 are tied to the shank portion 14adjacent the eye 12, and such hackles radially extend from theassociated shank portion substantially vertically, as will beappreciated from FIG. 1. The hackles 34 are of considerable length, andthose hackles or strands extending downwardly extend well below theprojection of the hook shank portion 20. Additional fly material is tiedto the shank portions 16 and 20, and in the disclosed embodiment suchfly material takes the form of a plurality of flexible hairs or strands33 which are tightly and densely wrapped by thread 35 toform a bundle orbody 36 disposed about the portions l6and 20 which adds significantweight to the -IIOOkj1'at these portions. The rear portion of thebody'36 extends around the junction 26 of the hook so as" o be disposedupwardly toward the projection of the shank portion 14. This orientationis important in that strands 38, which are the free ends of strands 33,freely extend from the rear of the body 36 about the arcuate hookportion 24 and in a general upward direction, inclined to thehorizontal. As will be appreciated from FIG. 1 the length of the strands38 freely extending from the body 36 is substantial, and, preferably,several strands, or a small feather 40, also extends from the bundle 36and is of significantly greater length than the free strands 38 andextends vertically upwardly a considerable distance above the projectionof the shank portion 14. Also, a pair of small feathers 42 may beincorporated into the hackles 34 and may extend in an upward directionas will be appreciated from FIG. 2.

When the dry fly fishing lure of FIG. 1 rests upon the water surface,the weight of the lure causes the body 36 to slightly indent the watersurface, but yet the water surface tension is not broken. Of course,only the lower region of the body 36 will be engaging the water, and thefree strands 38, being disposed upwardly from the body will rest uponthe water surface at a location vertically located higher than thebottom of body 36, and tend to aid in the orientation of the hookportion 24 in the vertical manner desired, as shown. when resting uponthe water surface the lure will not be disposed in an exact horizontalmanner in that the downwardly extending hackles 34 will rest upon thewater surface and raise the eye end of the lure upwardly since themajority of the hackles engaging the water will not penetrate the watersurface. The engagement of the free strands 38 with the water surfaceprevents the lure from tipping or rolling over, under normal conditions,as does the engagement of the hackles 34 with the water surface.

The elongated feathers or strands 40 and 42 are particularly helpful inorienting the lure to the vertical as the lure is cast through the airand descends toward the water. In that the feathers 40 and 42 aredisposed well above the lure center of gravity, and due to the locationof hackles 34 and strands 38 above the lure center of gravity, and theair resistance produced thereby, the lure will be properly verticallyoriented prior to engaging the water surface, and because of the keelaction of the lure, plus the advantages derived by the free strands 38,the body 36, and the hackle strands 34, the desired orientation of thelure on the water surface will be maintained.

FIG. 3 illustrates a dry fly fishing lure similar to that shown in FIGS.1 and 2 and identical components are indicated by primed numerals,except this embodiment is preferred over the previously describedembodiment in that superior floatation characteristics are achieved bythe utilization of a second group of hair-like strands or hackles 44mounted upon the hook shank portion 16 adjacent the junction 18. As willbe appreciated in FIG. 3, the flexible strands 44 radially extend fromthe portion 16 adjacent the junction 18 so as to be angularly disposedto and intersecting, the strands or hackles 34', identical to hackles 34of the embodiment of FIG. 1. Thus, as the strands 44 are of sufficientlength as to intersect the strands 34, the strands of both groups ofhackles will intermingle, and as will be appreciated from FIG. 3, thelength of the strands 44 extending downwardly are sufficient to extendbelow the projection of the length of the hook shank portion 20.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 produces superior floatation due to thepresence of more water surface engaging strands or hackles than ispossible with the embodiment of FIG. 1, and also because of the angularorientation of the strands 44 extending downwardly. Such angularorientation distributes the strands 44 over a relatively wide area ofwater surface and at an angle which resists penetration of the watersurface and thereby produces superior support and floatation of thefront end of the lure. Also, as the upwardly extending hackles 44 extendin the direction of sharp end 28 these hackles aid in protecting thelure against snagging.

FIG. 4 illustrates a wet fly fishing lure embodiment using fly materialin the form of a foil 46 wrapped upon the hook portions 16 and 20, andthereby adding weight to the hook on those portions basicallycontributing to the keel action of the lure. The foil 46 is wound onboth the hook portions 16 and 20 and flexible strands 48 extendrearwardly therefrom. The lightweight fly material 50 affixed to theshank portion 14 constitutes a wing, two of such wings being tied to theshank portion 14 and extending toward the hook end 28. The wings 50 maybe formed of feathers or the like folded back upon themselves as to forma loop. In that this type of lure is submerged during use, the presenceof the lightweight wing disposed in substantial alignment with theprojection of the shank portion 14, and hence above the center ofgravity of the lure, readily permits the lure to keel and maintain thedesired vertical orientation. The fly material foil 46 adds to the vtype. In this embodiment the hook configuration is identical to thatshown in FIG. 8, but of a small size, and flexible fly material strands52, such as formed of hair,feathers, or the like are tied to the shank14. The length of the fly material 52 is such as to extend to the sharpend 28 to protect the end for antisnagging purposes, and the resiliencyof the strands is such as to deflect the lure from the path of snaggableobjects, but will readily deflect from the hook sharp end upon the lurebeing taken by a fish.

Since, in a small lure, the ratio of weight distribution between the flymaterial 52, andthe hook portions 16 and 20 is such as to reduce theefiect of the keel ac tion as compared with larger lures, it isdesirable to add weight to the shank portions 16 and 20, and this may beachieved by winding a wire 54, such as of lead, about these shankportions, as illustrated. The wire 54 thereby significantly increasesthe weight of the hook below the projection of the shank portion 14 andthe wire 54 may be camouflaged by wrapping hair or other fly materialthereabout, as represented at 56 in FIGS. 6 and 7. Rather than windingthe wire 54 about the hook portions 16 and 20 the wire may be tied tothe hook portions or otherwise affixed thereto, and then covered by thefly material 56.

Preferably, the fly material 56 extends over the hook junction 26 andhair-like strands 58 extend from the material 56 disposed in anupwarddirection with respect to shank portion 20. Thus, the strands 58 will belocated so as to contribute to the keel action since most of the lengthof strands 58 will be located above the lure center of gravity, as isthe case with all of the fly material 52.

By adding the extra weight to the hook portions 16 and 20 the keelaction of the lure of FIGS. 6 and 7 is augmented, and while the keelaction of the lure without the addition of the wire 54 will exist,tipping of the lure while in the water is minimized as the weight of thelure well below the lightweight fly material 52 is increased.

With respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 5, it will beappreciated that the hackles 34, 34' and 44, and the wings 50 are alldisposed intermediate the hook eye 12 and the sharp end 28 such that thehackles and wing function to protect the hook from snagging as the lureis pulled through the water. In the dry flies of FIGS. 1 through 3,although the hackle strands are not disposed immediately adjacent thesharp end 28, the antisnagging characteristics of the lure remain as anyobject which is likely to be snagged will pass adjacent the hackles andengagement with the hackles will deflect the lure from the path of suchobject. In all of the embodiments the addition of fly material to thehook portions 16 and 20, whether it be in the form of wrapped hair orstrands, foil, wire, etc., will increase the weight of the hook at thoseportions thereof which provide the keel" action and function, and thusthe desired vertical orientation of the hook wherein the point 28 isabove portion 20 will be augmented by the practice of the invention.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the disclosed embodimentmay be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope thereof.

What is claimedis:

l. A fly fishing lure characterized by its ability to resist snaggingand orient itself to the vertical comprising, in combination, a hookhaving a shank, an eye defined at an end of said shank, said shankincluding a first portion disposed adjacent said eye having alongitudinal length extending away from said eye, a second shank portiondepending downwardly from said first portion and angularly disposed tosaid first portion and the length thereof, a third shank portionextending from said second portion in the general direction of thelongitudinal length of said first portion and away from said eye, anarcuate hook portion extending from said third portion and curvingupwardly toward the projection of below the projection of said firstshank portion and below said first fly material whereby said second andthird portions and said second fly material function as a keel tomaintain said sharp end above said third portion, at least 50 percent ofthe total weight of the hook and said second fly material occurring onthe side of an imaginary line drawn through said eye and a point onehalf the shortest distance between said sharp end and said third portionremote from said sharp end.

2. In a fishing lure as in claim 1 wherein said second fly material isalso mounted upon said second shank portion.

3. In a fly fishing lure as in claim 2 wherein said second fly materialextends in a continuous manner from said third shank portion to saidsecond shank portion and conforms in configuration to said second shankportion and the junction of said second and third portions.

4. In a dry fly fishing lure as in claim 1 wherein said second flymaterial comprises a plurality of lightweight flexible strands tightlywrapped together upon said third portion and upon the junction of saidthird and hook portions forming a dense body whereby the rear portion ofsaid body of wrapped strands mounted upon the junction of said third andhook portions is disposed upwardly toward the projection of said firstshank portion, and free strand ends extending from said body rearportion upwardly disposed toward the projection of said first shankportion whereby upon the lower region of said body resting upon andindenting the water surface said strand ends are located at a higherelevation on the water surface and maintain said hook portion sharp enddisposed above said third shank portion.

5. In a dry fly fishing lure as in claim 4 wherein said free strand endsinclude at least one elongated strand of greater length than themajority of said free strand ends which extends upwardly substantiallybeyond said sharp end and aids in locating said sharp end above saidthird portion as the lure falls through the air toward the water.

6. In a dry fly fishing lure as in claim 5 wherein said elongated strandcomprises feathers.

7. In a dry fly fishing lure as in claim 4 wherein said first flymaterial comprises a first group of hair-like strands radially extendingfrom said first shank portion, the hair-like strands extendingdownwardly from said first portion extending below the projection ofsaid third shank portion and adapted to engage the water surface to aidin the floatation of the lure.

8. In a dry fly fishing lure as in claim 7, a second group of hair-likestrands mounted upon said second shank portion adjacent said first shankportion and radially extending from said second portion, the strands ofsaid second group being angularly disposed to the strands of said firstgroup and downwardly extending strands of said second group extendingbelow the projection of said third shank portion and intermingling withthe downwardly extending strands of said first group whereby theintermingling downwardly extending strands of said first and secondgroups aid in the floatation of the lure.

9. In a fly fishing lure as in claim 1 wherein said second fly materialcomprises a foil wrapped about said third and second shank portions.

10. In a fly fishing lure as claim 1 wherein said second fly materialincludes a wire weight mounted upon said third shank portion to increasethe weight of said lure at said third shank portion.

11. In a fly fishing lure as in claim 10 wherein said first fly materialcomprises flexible strands extending toward said hook portion sharp end,and said second fly material includes a hair-like material wrapped aboutsaid third shank portion over said wire.

12. A dry fly fishing lure characterized by its ability to resistsnagging and orient itself to the vertical comprising, in combination, ahook having a shank, an eye defined at an end of said shank, said shankincluding a first portion disposed adjacent said eye having alongitudinal length extending away from said eye, a second shank portiondepending downwardly from said first portion and angularly disposed tosaid first portion and the length thereof, a third shank portionextending from said second portion in the general direction of thelongitudinal length of said first portion and away from said eye, anarcuate hook portion extending from said third portion and curvingupwardly toward the projection of the longitudinal length of said firstportion including a sharp end extending toward said first shank portionand said eye, a first group of hair-like strands mounted upon said firstshank portion and radially extending therefrom, the strands extendingdownwardly from said first portion extending below the projection ofsaid third shank portion, a plurality of lightweight flexible strandstightly wrapped together upon said third shank portion and upon thejunction of said third and hook portions forming a dense body wherebythe rear portion of said body of wrapped strands mounted upon thejunction of said third and hook portions is disposed obliquely upwardlytoward the projection of said first shank portion, free strand endsextending from said body rear portion upwardly disposed toward theprojection of said first shank portion, at least one half of the totalweight of the lure being located below a line extending from said eyethrough the center of the bight of the arcuate hooked portion and sharpend whereby upon the lower region of said body of strands resting uponand indenting the water surface said free strand ends are located at ahigher elevation on the water surface and aid in maintaining said hookportion sharp end disposed above said third shank portion and said firstgroup of strands resist tipping of the lure.

13. In a dry fly fishing lure as in claim 11, a second group ofhair-like strands mounted upon said second shank portion adjacent saidfirst shank portion and radially extending from said second portion, thestrands of said second group being angularly disposed to the strands ofsaid first group and downwardly extending strands of said second groupextending below the projection of said third shank portion and belowsaid first shank portion and intermingling with the downwardly extendingstrands of said first group, whereby the intermingling downwardlyextending strands of said first and second groups aid in the floatationof the lure.

14. In a dry fly fishing lure as in claim 11 wherein said free strandends include elongated strands of greater length than the majority ofsaid free strand ends which extend upwardly substantially beyond saidsharp end and function to aid in locating said sharp end above saidthird portion as the lure falls through the air toward the water.

1. A fly fishing lure characterized by its ability to resist snaggingand orient itself to the vertical comprising, in combination, a hookhaving a shank, an eye defined at an end of said shank, said shankincluding a first portion disposed adjacent said eye having alongitudinal length extending away from said eye, a second shank portiondepending downwardly from said first portion and angularly disposed tosaid first portion and the length thereof, a third shank portionextending from said second portion in the general direction of thelongitudinal length of said first portion and away from said eye, anarcuate hook portion extending from said third portion and curvingupwardly toward the projection of the longitudinal length of said firstportion including a sharp end extending toward said first shank portionand said eye, first lightweight fly material affixed to said first shankportion adjacent said eye, second fly material mounted upon said thirdshank portion and disposed about said third portion to substantiallyconform to the configuration of said third portion, the weight of saidsecond and third portions and said second fly material being such as tolocate the center of gravity of the lure below the projection of saidfirst shank portion and below said first fly material whereby saidsecond and third portions and said second fly material function as akeel to maintain said sharp end above said third portion, at least 50percent of the total weight of the hook and said second fly materialoccurring on the side of an imaginary line drawn through said eye and apoint one-half the shortest distance between said sharp end and saidthird portion remote from said sharp end.
 2. In a fishing lure as inclaim 1 wherein said second fly material is also mounted upon saidsecond shank portion.
 3. In a fly fishing lure as in claim 2 whereinsaid second fly material extends in a continuous manner from said thirdshank portion to said second shank portIon and conforms in configurationto said second shank portion and the junction of said second and thirdportions.
 4. In a dry fly fishing lure as in claim 1 wherein said secondfly material comprises a plurality of lightweight flexible strandstightly wrapped together upon said third portion and upon the junctionof said third and hook portions forming a dense body whereby the rearportion of said body of wrapped strands mounted upon the junction ofsaid third and hook portions is disposed upwardly toward the projectionof said first shank portion, and free strand ends extending from saidbody rear portion upwardly disposed toward the projection of said firstshank portion whereby upon the lower region of said body resting uponand indenting the water surface said strand ends are located at a higherelevation on the water surface and maintain said hook portion sharp enddisposed above said third shank portion.
 5. In a dry fly fishing lure asin claim 4 wherein said free strand ends include at least one elongatedstrand of greater length than the majority of said free strand endswhich extends upwardly substantially beyond said sharp end and aids inlocating said sharp end above said third portion as the lure fallsthrough the air toward the water.
 6. In a dry fly fishing lure as inclaim 5 wherein said elongated strand comprises feathers.
 7. In a dryfly fishing lure as in claim 4 wherein said first fly material comprisesa first group of hair-like strands radially extending from said firstshank portion, the hair-like strands extending downwardly from saidfirst portion extending below the projection of said third shank portionand adapted to engage the water surface to aid in the floatation of thelure.
 8. In a dry fly fishing lure as in claim 7, a second group ofhair-like strands mounted upon said second shank portion adjacent saidfirst shank portion and radially extending from said second portion, thestrands of said second group being angularly disposed to the strands ofsaid first group and downwardly extending strands of said second groupextending below the projection of said third shank portion andintermingling with the downwardly extending strands of said first groupwhereby the intermingling downwardly extending strands of said first andsecond groups aid in the floatation of the lure.
 9. In a fly fishinglure as in claim 1 wherein said second fly material comprises a foilwrapped about said third and second shank portions.
 10. In a fly fishinglure as claim 1 wherein said second fly material includes a wire weightmounted upon said third shank portion to increase the weight of saidlure at said third shank portion.
 11. In a fly fishing lure as in claim10 wherein said first fly material comprises flexible strands extendingtoward said hook portion sharp end, and said second fly materialincludes a hair-like material wrapped about said third shank portionover said wire.
 12. A dry fly fishing lure characterized by its abilityto resist snagging and orient itself to the vertical comprising, incombination, a hook having a shank, an eye defined at an end of saidshank, said shank including a first portion disposed adjacent said eyehaving a longitudinal length extending away from said eye, a secondshank portion depending downwardly from said first portion and angularlydisposed to said first portion and the length thereof, a third shankportion extending from said second portion in the general direction ofthe longitudinal length of said first portion and away from said eye, anarcuate hook portion extending from said third portion and curvingupwardly toward the projection of the longitudinal length of said firstportion including a sharp end extending toward said first shank portionand said eye, a first group of hair-like strands mounted upon said firstshank portion and radially extending therefrom, the strands extendingdownwardly from said first portion extending below the projection ofsaid third shank portion, a plurality of lIghtweight flexible strandstightly wrapped together upon said third shank portion and upon thejunction of said third and hook portions forming a dense body wherebythe rear portion of said body of wrapped strands mounted upon thejunction of said third and hook portions is disposed obliquely upwardlytoward the projection of said first shank portion, free strand endsextending from said body rear portion upwardly disposed toward theprojection of said first shank portion, at least one half of the totalweight of the lure being located below a line extending from said eyethrough the center of the bight of the arcuate hooked portion and sharpend whereby upon the lower region of said body of strands resting uponand indenting the water surface said free strand ends are located at ahigher elevation on the water surface and aid in maintaining said hookportion sharp end disposed above said third shank portion and said firstgroup of strands resist tipping of the lure.
 13. In a dry fly fishinglure as in claim 11, a second group of hair-like strands mounted uponsaid second shank portion adjacent said first shank portion and radiallyextending from said second portion, the strands of said second groupbeing angularly disposed to the strands of said first group anddownwardly extending strands of said second group extending below theprojection of said third shank portion and below said first shankportion and intermingling with the downwardly extending strands of saidfirst group, whereby the intermingling downwardly extending strands ofsaid first and second groups aid in the floatation of the lure.
 14. In adry fly fishing lure as in claim 11 wherein said free strand endsinclude elongated strands of greater length than the majority of saidfree strand ends which extend upwardly substantially beyond said sharpend and function to aid in locating said sharp end above said thirdportion as the lure falls through the air toward the water.